When the tissue pops out, the timing mark on the balancer should be within an inch or two of the pointer. If it was more than that, it's possible that you have a bad balancer. BUT, if your timing was even close, you would at least get a backfire.
Do the tissue thing again, but when it pops out, insert a long pencil into the spark plug hole, so that the eraser end rests on the top of the piston. Check your timing marks, and rotate the engine, by hand (from the crank bolt), while watching the pencil. It will rise at first, then stop, then it will start to go down. You want to get it to the point where it no longer goes up any more, but hasn't started to go down yet. This is your true TDC point. The Timing marks should be at zero degrees. If they're not, then the balancer is damaged, and must be replaced. If the marks are correct, remove the pencil, and rotate the engine backwards until the marks are aligned at 10 degrees BTDC (just barely nudge it). Now verify that the rotor is pointing at the number one spark plug wire on the cap. If this all checks out, then you do have another problem.
Also, just to clarify, your number one cylinder (where you should be testing for TDC) is the forward most cylinder on the passenger side.
As far as your ground wire, try cleaning the connections. If that doesn't correct that problem, remove some of the warm wire's insulation, and flex the wire. If any "dust" falls out when you flex the wire, it's bad, and must be replaced.
Take care,
-Chris
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